Apparatus for table golf game

ABSTRACT

The table golf game is a real golf simulating type game played on a table with a cue stick, a miniature golf ball and a life-like miniaturized-version of a golf course including: fairways; greens; elevated, self-contained holes; sand traps; water hazards; a scoreboard; and a storage area. Players of the game compete to locate their golf ball into a golf hole in as few strokes as possible.

This utility application is a nonprovisional application of co-pendingprovisional application Ser. No. 60/574,536 filed May 26, 2004, thespecification of which is incorporated herein by reference. The benefitof the filing date of this earlier filed application is claimed under 35U.S.C. §119(e).

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to table golf More particularly, thepresent invention relates to a golf game played on a table with a cuestick, a miniature golf ball and a life-like miniaturized-version of agolf course including: fairways; greens; elevated, self-contained holes;sand traps; water hazards; a scoreboard; and a storage area.

BACKGROUND

Golf is one of the most widely enjoyed sports activities in the worldand has strong support at both the recreational and professional levels.While golf has always been a popular game for both novices andprofessionals, the popularity of the game has exploded in recent years.Record numbers are flocking to beautiful courses worldwide to try theirhand at the seemingly arduous task of putting a little white ball in afour inch hole located hundreds of yards away in as few shots aspossible. The popularity of golf has inspired many simulated golf games,such as computer video games and other golf-related games such asFrisbee golf and miniature golf.

Some of these golf-related games are table golf games, played either onpool tables or on other, generic tables. While popular, these games lackthe closeness in their similarity to golf This is in part because of thedifficulty in simulating the terrain of a real golf course, whichincludes different surfaces for the tee area, fairway, putting green,and the “rough” and other hazards such as water, sand traps, bushes andtrees. In addition, one of the more unique aspects of golf and also anaspect where the other table golf games have failed is in realisticallyduplicating the various slopes that exist on a golf course.

In addition to the above-mentioned problems, some table golf games donot have multiple holes on one table. As a result, a game with multipleholes requires a lot of space. Another problem is in physicallyseparating each hole from each other. On a regular golf course, mostholes are separated by natural borders such as trees and water that helpto contain errant shots. However, in many table golf games, suchbarriers do not exist and, as a result, the miniature golf balls oftentravel freely in between the different holes.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to table golf. More particularly, thepresent invention relates to a golf game played on a table with a cuestick, a miniature golf ball and a life-like miniaturized-version of agolf course including: fairways; greens; elevated, self-contained holes;sand traps; water hazards; a scoreboard; and a storage area.

Embodiments of the present invention take place in association with atable with a life-like miniaturized-version of a golf course, a cuestick and a miniature golf ball. In one embodiment, the table golf gameclosely resembles the real game of golf. In this embodiment, each holeis elevated and self-contained. This self-containment is accomplished inthis embodiment by surrounding each hole by a hazard, such as a waterhazard. In this embodiment, the holes do not intersect each other. Thus,it requires the skill of the player to keep the ball in play. Althoughall holes are self-contained on one table, the miniature golf ball usedis reachable from all angles. Similar to a real golf course, thisembodiment has multiple holes on each course, such as nine holes.

In addition, if the ball goes into the water hazard surrounding a hole,a penalty stroke can be charged. Additional hazards included in thisembodiment include built-in sand traps as well as other hazards that canbe added to increase the difficulty of play. These other hazardsinclude; tree trunks, boulders, logs, fences, or bushes. In addition,other hazards can be created and used as needed. In order to closelyresemble the actual game of golf, the transformation from the fairway tothe green is noticeable. For instance, the fairway grass is slightlyhigher than the surface of the green to simulate the actual differencein a real golf course. However, the difference between the green and thefairway is not big enough to prevent the ball from rolling off of thegreen if it is hit too hard.

In some embodiments, a marble is used as the golf ball. In otherembodiments, a miniature golf ball with dimples is used. In someembodiments of the present invention, one or more self-contained drawersare built into the frame of the game. These self-contained drawers storethe multiple hazards, pool cues, and balls. Some embodiments of thepresent invention include manual score cards that allow the player tomanually keep track of his or her score. Some embodiments of the presentinvention include a scoreboard. In one embodiment, the scoreboard iselectronic. While one skilled in the art will recognize a wide varietyof electronic scoreboards can be used, the electronic scoreboard in thisembodiment uses a two-digit scoreboard, where the score accumulates ateach hole and is manually controlled by three buttons. The first buttonallows the player to subtract numbers, the second allows the players toclear the score, and the third button allows the players to add a numberto the score.

Other embodiments of the present invention have manual scoreboards. Inone embodiment, the manual scoreboard includes bars for each playerLining up horizontally and next to each other. In this embodiment, eachplayer has two bars numbered one through ten. Using these bars, a playercan track his or her score. An additional benefit of the presentinvention is that the table golf game is visually appealing and fits inmost social environments, such as pool halls, bars, bowling alleys,recreation centers, golf course club houses, school student loungeareas, restaurants, cabins, homes, and offices.

An additional advantage of the present invention is that the presentinvention requires that the player us his or her skill in order to keepthe ball in play. In contrast, other table golf games have bumpers orother borders that keep the ball in play. In one embodiment of thepresent invention, the fairways have simulated grass and the greens aremade of felt, allowing the ball to roll smoothly on either surface.While some embodiments of the present invention are portable, others arenot.

Another advantage of the self-contained aspect of the present inventionis that the holes do not cross each other. In some embodiments of thepresent invention, the storage area aspect includes a storagecompartment on the side of the pool table game that stores the cues.Another storage area included in this and other embodiments is a storagearea on the top of the table that holds balls and removable hazards.

An additional advantage of the present invention is that the hazardsused are big enough so that they can interfere with the line of the ballbut are not so big that their size limits the players from using theircue sticks from any angle desired.

Construction of the table golf game can be done using varying levels ofquality. For instance, one embodiment includes a hardwood frame andtable legs. This embodiment also uses high quality grasses and waterhazards. Other embodiments create the surface of the table with aplastic mold injection process. This process can be used to create theentire table or can be used to create individual holes attached to thebase with either glue, spot welds or nuts and bolts.

An additional hazard gives the table golf game a more realistic feel andalso makes it more challenging. This hazard can comprise a variety ofdifferent elevations and depressions in the surface of the tablecreating a variety of slopes over which the ball travels. For example,the fairways can have hills and slopes such that the greens are at adifferent elevation than the fairways. Thus in some embodiments, theplaying surface of the table defines an undulating or compound contouredsurface.

In some embodiments of the present invention the table height is theapproximate height of a pool table. In other embodiments, the tableheight is custom-made according to the desire of the players. While someembodiments of the table golf game include multiple holes, these holescan be of varying lengths, shapes and overall configuration.

While the methods and processes of the present invention have beenproven to be particularly useful in the area of table golf games, thoseskilled in the art can appreciate that the methods and processes can beused in a variety of different applications and manufactured in avariety of different ways to yield improved game simulations.

These and other features and advantages of the present invention will beset forth or will become more fully apparent in the description thatfollows. The features and advantages may be realized and obtained bymeans of the instruments and combinations particularly pointed out inthe description that follows. Furthermore, the features and advantagesof the invention may be learned by the practice of the invention or willbe obvious from the description, as set forth hereinafter.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

In order that the manner in which the above recited and other featuresand advantages of the present invention are obtained, a more particulardescription of the invention will be rendered by reference to specificembodiments thereof, which are illustrated in the appended drawings.Understanding that the drawings depict only typical embodiments of thepresent invention and are not, therefore, to be considered as limitingthe scope of the invention, the present invention will be described andexplained with additional specificity and detail through the use of theaccompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a representative table golf game;

FIG. 2 illustrates a plan view of a representative table golf game thatincludes an electronic scoreboard;

FIG. 3 illustrates a representative table golf game that includes amanual scoreboard;

FIG. 4 illustrates a close-up view of a representative electronicscoreboard;

FIG. 5 illustrates a close-up view of a manual scoreboard;

FIG. 6 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the table golf game showinghow the frame, base, and playing area are connected;

FIG. 7 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the table golf game showinga section of the green area;

FIG. 8 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the table golf game showinga section of the tee-off area;

FIG. 9 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the table golf game showinga section of a water hazard between fairways;

FIG. 10 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the table golf gameshowing a section of an electronic scoreboard area with the lid to theball storage area closed;

FIG. 11 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the table golf gameshowing a section of the electronic scoreboard area with the lid to theball storage area open;

FIG. 12 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the table golf gameshowing a section of the manual scoreboard area with the lid to the ballstorage area closed;

FIG. 13 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the table golf gameshowing a section of the manual scoreboard area with the lid to the ballstorage area open;

FIG. 14 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the table golf gameshowing a section of the fairway with a sand trap;

FIG. 15 illustrates a representative table golf game showing asupplemental compartment in a closed position;

FIG. 16 illustrates a representative table golf game showing asupplemental compartment in an open position that includes the first andsecond cue stick compartments and a supplemental compartment shelf; and

FIG. 17 illustrates a representative golf game showing a supplementalcompartment shelf in an extended position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to table golf More particularly, thepresent invention relates to a golf game played on a table with a cuestick, a miniature golf ball and a life-like miniaturized-version of agolf course including; fairways; greens; elevated, self-contained holes;sand traps; water hazards; a scoreboard; and a storage area.

It will be readily understood that the components of the presentinvention, as generally described and illustrated in the figures herein,could be arranged and designed in a wide variety of differentconfigurations. Thus, the following more detailed description of theembodiments of the system and method of the present invention is notintended to limit the scope of the invention, but is merelyrepresentative of the presently preferred embodiments of the invention.

Referring now to FIG. 1, a table golf game 10 comprises a frame 12, abase 14, a playing area 16, and an electronic scoreboard 18. In thispresently preferred embodiment, playing area 16 further comprises atee-off area 20, a fairway 22, a sand trap 24, a green area 26, a hole28, and a water hazard 30. In the presently preferred embodiment of thepresent invention, a player 32 (not shown) places a ball 34 (not shown)on the tee-off area 20. The player 32 then strikes the ball 34 using acue stick 36 (not shown). In some embodiments, the cue stick 36 maycomprise the shape of a miniature golf club.

Player 32 continues to strike ball 34 until player 32 successfullydirects ball 34 into hole 28. The player's 32 purpose is to direct ball34 into hole 28 using as few strikes or hits as possible. This purposeis made challenging by hazards, which in this embodiment include sandtrap 24 and water hazard 30. Playing area 16 can comprise a variety ofdifferent elevations and depressions, creating a variety of slopes overwhich the ball travels. For example, the fairways 22 can have hills andslopes such that the green areas 26 are at different elevations than thefairways 22.

In addition, water hazard 30 separates each hole from other holes. Thus,different holes do not intersect each other due to the containmentcharacteristic provided by water hazard 30. Similar to an actual golfcourse, the grass on fairway 22 is slightly higher than the grass ongreen area 26. Thus, player 32 must strike ball 34 with greater force onthe fairway 22 than on green area 26.

In addition, water hazard 30 is physically separated from a playingsurface 38 of playing area 16 because playing surface 38 is elevated.Upon the successful delivery of ball 34 into hole 28, player 32 useselectronic scoreboard 18 to keep track of his or her score and thenproceeds to the next hole. In some embodiments of the present invention,the player uses manual score cards (not shown) that allow the player tomanually keep track of his or her score.

In some embodiments of the present invention, the playing area 16 alsoincludes flags 108 (see FIG. 15) located at the holes 28. Each of theflags 108 preferably comprises: a base that fits inside the hole 28, apole that is inserted into the base, and a banner located at the top ofthe pole to represent the current hole 28 that is in play. The flags 108are preferably removable when putting; they can also be removed ifneeded in order to hit or strike the ball 34. The flags 108 simulate theflags that identify the holes in a real golf course and provide yetanother way to preserve the sense of playing real golf.

FIG. 2 shows a plan view of table golf game 10 that includes electronicscoreboard 18. In this embodiment, a non-limiting example is givenshowing how nine differently configured holes can fit within table golfgame 10. One skilled in the art will recognize that a wide variety ofvarious configurations is possible.

FIG. 3 shows another plan view of a presently preferred embodiment ofthe present invention which includes the manual scoreboard 40.

FIG. 4 shows a close-up view of electronic scoreboard 18 that includes asubtract button 50, a clear button 52, and an add button 54. Thisembodiment is configured such that four different players can tracktheir scores at one time. Each time player 32 strikes ball 34, he or shepresses add button 54. If player 32 inadvertently presses the add button54 too many times, he or she corrects the score by using subtract button50. Upon completion of the game, player 32 then presses clear button 52which returns the score to zero. Electronic scoreboard 18 can beconfigured using methods well know to one skilled in the art ofelectronics.

FIG. 5 shows a close-up view of manual scoreboard 40 which includes afirst bar 60 and a second bar 62, which are used to track the score ofeach player. In this embodiment, first bar 60 and second bar 62 havenumbers one through 10 in order to track each player's score.

Moving now to FIG. 6, FIG. 6 shows a cross-sectional view of table golfgame 10 that illustrates how frame 12, base 14 and playing area 16 areconnected. In this embodiment, frame 12 and base 14 are directlyconnected to, water hazard 30. In addition, base 14 is also connected tothe base of green area 70. The preferred embodiments of the table golfgame 10 are designed to be portable so that the player can convenientlycarry it to a variety of venues.

One skilled in the art will recognize that a wide variety ofconfigurations can exist connecting the various parts of table golf game10. For instance, frame 12 can also be connected to tee-off area 20 orwater hazard 30. Also, while this particular embodiment of the presentinvention shows frame 12 firmly attached to playing area 16, otherembodiments of the present invention allow playing area 16 to beremovably attached to frame 12 so that table golf game 10 is portable.In some embodiments of the present invention, the frame 12 is designedto be placed on top of a table (not shown), whether the latter table isincluded as part of the table golf game 10 or is any sort ofpre-existing table available to the player. Thus, a player who lackssufficient floor space can opt to place the frame 12 on top of thetable, thereby saving space and allowing the player to play the game ina greater variety of areas.

Referring now to FIG. 7, FIG. 7 shows a cross-sectional view of a greenarea 26. This view shows a portion of the fairway 22 that has adifference in height 72 and leads up to green area 26 and hole 28. Thisembodiment of the present invention shows how playing area 16 of thetable golf game 10 is constructed to mirror the difficulties faced by agolfer on a real golf course. For instance, just as on a real golfcourse a golfer must negotiate uneven surfaces, here, player 32 mustalso negotiate ball 34 around uneven surfaces such as the difference inheight 72 shown in this embodiment.

In addition, this cross-sectional view shows how green area 26 has asmoother surface than fairway 22. This allows ball 34 to play similar toa real golf ball in that ball 34 will be met with less resistance whentraveling along green area 26 than when it is traveling along fairway22.

FIG. 8 shows a cross-sectional view of a tee-off area 20. In thisparticular embodiment, tee-off area 20 includes an indent 80, in whichball 34 sits before player 32 strikes ball 34. This embodiment againshows how table golf game 10 is similar to the actual game of golf. Inthis instance, just as in the real game of golf, the tee-off areacomprises different surface than that of fairway 22; here also thetee-off area 20 is made of different material than that of fairway 22.In addition, just as many tee-off areas in the real game of golf areelevated, the tee-off area in FIG. 28 is also elevated.

FIG. 9 shows a cross-sectional view of table golf game 10 thatillustrates a section of water hazard 30 between two fairways 22. Asshown in FIG. 9, water hazard 30 separates two different holes. Asdiscussed above, this water hazard 30 ensures that each hole is aself-contained independent hole. When player 32 errantly directs ball34, ball 34 does not travel onto the playing area of other holes butrather finds itself in water hazard 30.

One skilled in the art can recognize that other hazards such as trees,shrubs, sand traps, or other barriers can be used to separate the holesfrom each other. In addition, water hazard 30 can also be used fornon-separating functions. For instance, water hazard 30 can also be usedto isolate green area 26 from the fairway 22 of a hole.

FIG. 10 shows a cross-section of electronic scoreboard 18. Thiscross-sectional view shows circuitry 90 found directly beneathelectronic scoreboard 18. In addition, this figures shows ball storagearea 92 and ball storage lid 94 in a closed position. This embodimentshows how table golf game 10 can conveniently and unobtrusively storeboth the circuitry to electronic scoreboard 18 and balls or other thingsneeded to play table golf game 10.

FIG. 11 shows ball storage lid 94 in an open position.

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of table golf game 10that includes manual scoreboard 40. This embodiment also shows ballstorage area 92 as well as ball storage lid 94. Because manualscoreboard 40 requires no circuitry, this embodiment also shows anadditional compartment 96. This additional compartment 96 can be used tostore other things relevant to the table golf game 10. Access toadditional compartment 96 is achieved by removing scoreboard support 98.

FIG. 13 shows the embodiment of FIG. 12 where ball storage lid 94 is inan open position.

FIG. 14 shows a cross-sectional view of table golf game 10 that includesfairway 22 and sand trap 24. This view shows how sand trap 24 workstogether with fairway 22 to provide a challenge similar to the challengein the real game of golf of avoiding sand traps. This is because whenball 34 travels through sand trap 24 it will most likely end up lodgedin sand trap 24 instead of traveling onto the other side of sand trap 24and towards hole 28.

FIG. 15 through 17 show how a supplemental compartment 100 isincorporated into the present invention. FIG. 15 shows a cover 102 in aclosed position that hides supplemental compartment 100 when in a closedposition. FIG. 16 shows cover 102 in an open position. When in an openposition, player 32 can access supplemental compartment 100, as well asany other compartments that may exist behind cover 102. For instance, inthe embodiment shown in FIG. 16, two additional compartments exist.First, a first cue stick compartment 104 and second, a second cuecompartment 106. These cue stick compartments are used to house cuesticks 36 among other things. Supplemental compartment 100 is used tohouse all other items needed for table golf game 10, such as hazards,balls and flags 108.

FIG. 16 shows a supplemental compartment shelf 110 in a storageposition, whereas FIG. 17 shows supplemental shelf 110 in an extendedposition.

Thus as discussed herein, the embodiments of the present inventionembrace a table golf game with self-contained holes and other featuressimilar to the real game of golf It will be noted that some embodimentsof the table golf game 10 may be made of materials that allow it to beplayed in an outdoor environment as well as in an indoor environment.

The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms withoutdeparting from its spirit or essential characteristics. The describedembodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrativeand not restrictive.

1. A golf game kit configured to simulate an actual golf course, saidkit comprising: a playing surface, at least one ball, a plurality ofball receiving holes formed in said playing surface defining at least afirst hole and a second hole, at least one natural hazard simulatinghazard formed in said playing surface, and a ball actuation instrument,wherein said playing surfaced is configured such that said first hole isseparated from said second hole by said at least one hazard such thatwhen said ball is caused to roll on said playing surface in anydirection by said ball actuation instrument, said ball is prevent fromrolling from said first hole to said second hole by said hazard, andwherein said hazard defines a discrete detachable object attached tosaid playing surface.
 2. The kit of claim 1, wherein said natural hazardsimulating hazard defines at least one hazard of the following group ofhazards consisting of a water simulating hazard, a river simulatinghazard, a sand trap simulating hazard, a tree simulating hazard, aboulder simulating hazard, a log simulating hazard, a fence simulatinghazard, a brush simulating hazard, a bush simulating hazard, a hedgesimulating hazard, a hill simulating hazard, and a mountain simulatinghazard.
 3. The kit of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of saidplaying surface defines a compound contoured surface.
 4. The kit ofclaim 1, wherein said ball actuation instrument defines at least oneinstrument of the following group of instruments consisting of abilliard stick, a miniature billiard stick, a golf club, and a miniaturegolf club and wherein said ball defines at least one ball of thefollowing group of balls consisting of a marble, a golf ball, and aminiature golf ball.
 5. The kit of claim 1, wherein each of said ballreceiving holes includes a hole specific playing area formed in saidplaying surface, and wherein said hole specific playing area includes atee-off area, a fairway area, a rough area, and a putting green area. 6.The kit of claim 5, wherein said tee-off area, said fairway area, saidrough area, and said putting green area define different elevations ofsaid playing surface, and wherein said fairway area, said rough area,and said putting green area define playing surfaces having differentthicknesses of simulated turf connected thereto.
 7. The kit of claim 1,wherein said playing surface includes at least one auxiliary storagecompartment having an openable and closeable door and being connected tosaid playing surface, and wherein said auxiliary storage compartmentcontains at least one item of the following group of items consisting ofa billiard stick, a miniature billiard stick, a golf club, a miniaturegolf club, a marble, a golf ball, a miniature golf ball, and adetachable hazard.
 8. The kit of claim 1, wherein said playing surfaceincludes at least one scoreboard connected to said playing surface, andwherein said scoreboard defines an electronic scoreboard thatelectronically displays a score, and wherein said electronic scoreboardincludes a plurality of input buttons including a first button, a secondbutton, and a third button, and wherein the pressing of said firstbutton causes the score displayed on the scoreboard to be decreased, andwherein the pressing of said second button causes the score displayed onthe scoreboard to be cleared, and wherein the pressing of said thirdbutton causes the score displayed on the scoreboard to be increased. 9.The kit of claim 1, wherein said playing surface defines an assembledmodular playing surface comprising a plurality of assembled playingsurface members, and wherein said assembled playing surface is assembledto a frame, and wherein said frame is connected to a table.
 10. A golfgame kit configured to simulate an actual golf course, said kitcomprising: a playing surface, at least one ball, at least one ballreceiving hole formed in said playing surface, and at least oneauxiliary storage compartment having an openable and closeable door andbeing connected to said playing surface.
 11. The kit of claim 10,wherein said kit includes at least one detachable natural hazardsimulating hazard defining a discrete object attached to said playingsurface, and wherein said auxiliary storage compartment contains atleast one item of the following group of items consisting of a billiardstick, a miniature billiard stick, a golf club, a miniature golf club, amarble, a golf ball, a miniature golf ball, and a detachable hazard. 12.The kit of claim 10, wherein said kit includes a plurality of ballreceiving holes formed in said playing surface defining at least a firsthole and a second hole, and at least one natural hazard simulatinghazard formed in said playing surface, and wherein said playing surfacedis configured such that said first hole is separated from said secondhole by said at least one hazard such that when said ball is caused toroll on said playing surface in any direction by said ball actuationinstrument, said ball is prevent from rolling from said first hole tosaid second hole by said hazard.
 13. The kit of claim 10, wherein saidnatural hazard simulating hazard defines at least one hazard of thefollowing group of hazards consisting of a water simulating hazard, ariver simulating hazard, a sand trap simulating hazard, a treesimulating hazard, a boulder simulating hazard, a log simulating hazard,a fence simulating hazard, a brush simulating hazard, a bush simulatinghazard, a hedge simulating hazard, a hill simulating hazard, and amountain simulating hazard.
 14. The kit of claim 10, wherein at least aportion of said playing surface defines a compound contoured surface.15. The kit of claim 10, wherein said ball actuation instrument definesat least one instrument of the following group of instruments consistingof a billiard stick, a miniature billiard stick, a golf club, and aminiature golf club and wherein said ball defines at least one ball ofthe following group of balls consisting of a marble, a golf ball, and aminiature golf ball.
 16. The kit of claim 10, wherein said at least oneball receiving hole includes a hole specific playing area formed in saidplaying surface, and wherein said hole specific playing area includes atee-off area, a fairway area, a rough area, and a putting green area.17. The kit of claim 16, wherein said tee-off area, said fairway area,said rough area, and said putting green area define different elevationsof said playing surface, and wherein said fairway area, said rough area,and said putting green area define playing surfaces having differentthicknesses of simulated turf connected thereto.
 18. The kit of claim10, wherein said playing surface includes at least one scoreboardconnected to said playing surface, and wherein said scoreboard definesan electronic scoreboard that electronically displays a score, andwherein said electronic scoreboard includes a plurality of input buttonsincluding a first button, a second button, and a third button, andwherein the pressing of said first button causes the score displayed onthe scoreboard to be decreased, and wherein the pressing of said secondbutton causes the score displayed on the scoreboard to be cleared, andwherein the pressing of said third button causes the score displayed onthe scoreboard to be increased.
 19. The kit of claim 10, wherein saidplaying surface defines an assembled modular playing surface comprisinga plurality of assembled playing surface members, and wherein saidassembled playing surface is assembled to a frame, and wherein saidframe is connected to a table.
 20. A golf game kit configured tosimulate an actual golf course, said kit comprising: a playing surface,at least one ball, at least one ball receiving hole formed in saidplaying surface, at least one scoreboard connected to said playingsurface, at least one natural hazard simulating hazard defining adiscrete detachable object attached to said playing surface, and atleast one auxiliary storage compartment having an openable and closeabledoor and being connected to said playing surface.
 21. The kit of claim20, wherein said scoreboard defines an electronic scoreboard thatelectronically displays a score, and wherein said electronic scoreboardincludes a plurality of input buttons including a first button, a secondbutton, and a third button, and wherein the pressing of said firstbutton causes the score displayed on the scoreboard to be decreased, andwherein the pressing of said second button causes the score displayed onthe scoreboard to be cleared, and wherein the pressing of said thirdbutton causes the score displayed on the scoreboard to be increased. 22.The kit of claim 20, wherein said kit includes a plurality of ballreceiving holes formed in said playing surface defining at least a firsthole and a second hole, and wherein said playing surfaced is configuredsuch that said first hole is separated from said second hole by said atleast one hazard such that when said ball is caused to roll on saidplaying surface in any direction by said ball actuation instrument, saidball is prevent from rolling from said first hole to said second hole bysaid hazard.
 23. The kit of claim 22, wherein said natural hazardsimulating hazard defines at least one hazard of the following group ofhazards consisting of a water simulating hazard, a river simulatinghazard, a sand trap simulating hazard, a tree simulating hazard, aboulder simulating hazard, a log simulating hazard, a fence simulatinghazard, a brush simulating hazard, a bush simulating hazard, a hedgesimulating hazard, a hill simulating hazard, and a mountain simulatinghazard.
 24. The kit of claim 20, wherein at least a portion of saidplaying surface defines a compound contoured surface.
 25. The kit ofclaim 20, wherein said ball actuation instrument defines at least oneinstrument of the following group of instruments consisting of abilliard stick, a miniature billiard stick, a golf club, and a miniaturegolf club and wherein said ball defines at least one ball of thefollowing group of balls consisting of a marble, a golf ball, and aminiature golf ball.
 26. The kit of claim 20, wherein said at least oneball receiving hole includes a hole specific playing area formed in saidplaying surface, and wherein said hole specific playing area includes atee-off area, a fairway area, a rough area, and a putting green area.27. The kit of claim 26, wherein said tee-off area, said fairway area,said rough area, and said putting green area define different elevationsof said playing surface, and wherein said fairway area, said rough area,and said putting green area define playing surfaces having differentthicknesses of simulated turf connected thereto.
 28. The kit of claim20, wherein said auxiliary storage compartment contains at least oneitem of the following group of items consisting of a billiard stick, aminiature billiard stick, a golf club, a miniature golf club, a marble,a golf ball, a miniature golf ball, and a detachable hazard.
 29. The kitof claim 20, wherein said playing surface defines an assembled modularplaying surface comprising a plurality of assembled playing surfacemembers, and wherein said assembled playing surface is assembled to aframe, and wherein said frame is connected to a table.